Kel-Tec

As part of our Kel-Tec P-11 Improvement Project, we wanted to do something about the trigger. If you aren’t familiar with this firearm, the trigger has some… character. As with many double-action only (DAO) pistols, the P-11 has a long, heavy (9-pound) trigger pull. This is because, without an external manual safety, that trigger pull acts as a safety. However, the heavy pull can wear out your trigger finger and doesn’t exactly encourage you to shoot box after box of ammo at the range. Our female shooter on this project had trouble with the heavy trigger, barely being able to squeeze off a shot.

The stock trigger on the P-11 is a sharply-curved plastic number that has some side-to-side wiggle, some pre-travel and significant over-travel. The sharp curve of the trigger allows enough space for a finger to drag between the trigger and the guard during reset, which can wear a raw spot or blister in the span of a short range trip. The top of the trigger also allows for a shooter to pinch their finger between the grip frame and the upper part of the trigger.

Don’t misunderstand – the stock trigger on the P-11 is certainly passable and many enjoy their pistol just fine without any modifications. However, there is a lot of room for improvement. Continue reading →

Perfecting the Compact Pistol for Carry, Defense and the Range

Kel-Tec pistols are wildly popular for concealed carry and personal/home defense. According to ATF reports, Kel-Tec has produced an average of around 110,000 pistols per year for the past five years year (130,000 in 2009 alone) placing them solidly among the top manufacturers. Their USA-made pistols are available in a variety of calibers, each coming with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. A Kel-Tec representative couldn’t give us exact numbers but said that many of their models are “pushing or over a million already.”

However, along with these large numbers there are also a number of common complaints about the pistols. Some of these gripes include Continue reading →

Well, the 2012 NSSF Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show has come and gone from Fabulous Las Vegas and the 1,600 exhibiting companies brought with them many great innovations in the firearms, law enforcement, personal and home protection and outdoor realms. It also brought out many faces familiar to firearms and outdoor enthusiasts. The NSSF reports record setting buyer attendance (36,383 to be exact – which lead to record-setting numbers of sales orders being written at the show) and what they describe as “what may be the highest level of enthusiasm our industry has shown to start a new year.” The record-setting attendance of 61,000 may have been a part of what prompted the 3-year contract extension which guarantees that the show will remain in Las Vegas at least through 2015.

With a show as huge as SHOT, it can take a little time to digest everything that one sees and does during the show. The 2012 SHOT Show festivities lasted from January 16th through 20th 2012 and included shooting range time, company exhibits, movie screenings, celebrity appearances, meetings and more. By now, we’ve had just about enough time to come up with a brief list of some of our favorite things from this year’s show. Continue reading →